Intervention for Chronic and Emergency Exposure Situations International Cooperation IAEA Emergency Response Network Lecture IAEA Post Graduate Educational Course in Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources

Module X.10 - International Cooperation2 Introduction l For many years the IAEA has provided assistance to Member States related to nuclear or radiological emergencies l As part of this IAEA strategy a new concept of a world-wide Emergency Response Network (ERNET) was put forward by the IAEA in 1998 l The concept, structure and requirements for ERNET will be discussed in this lesson

Module X.10 - International Cooperation3 Content l ERNET response operations n Concept of operations n ERNET response activities l ERNET preparedness n Organisation, roles and responsibilities n Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) n IAEA requirements for ERTs l ERNET membership application l Summary

Module X.10 - International Cooperation4 Objectives l The ERNET is a network, which provides a world-wide emergency assistance to address a broad number of situations needing rapid response in order to mitigate the consequences of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency l The ERNET focuses primarily on the early evaluation of the radiological consequences of an accident, possible health effects and the provision of medical care to overexposed persons

Module X.10 - International Cooperation5 Concept of Operations

Module X.10 - International Cooperation6 Joint Emergency Team

Module X.10 - International Cooperation7 ERNET Response Activities l The ERNET response activities include: n radiation monitoring n radionuclide identification n source recovery n assessment of radiological consequences n assessment medical consequences n logistic support for JET operations

Module X.10 - International Cooperation8 Organisation l The ERNET consists of the Member Institutions l The commitment of each Member Institution to the ERNET is for a minimum of three years l Each Member Institution nominates an ERT Coordinator who is responsible for coordinating all activities associated with the ERT(s) response capabilities and preparedness l The Member Institution works in close cooperation with the Member State Competent Authority

Module X.10 - International Cooperation9 Coordination l The IAEA’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) serves as a focal point of the ERNET preparedness l EPRU coordinates all the necessary infra- structural planning for the ERNET in co- ordination with other international organisations as appropriate

Module X.10 - International Cooperation10 Emergency Response Teams l The ERNET recognises the following types of ERTs: n Aerial Survey Team (AST) n Radiation Monitoring Team (RMT) n Radionuclide Identification Team (RIT) n Source Recovery Team (SRT) n Assessment and Advisory Team (AAT) n Medical Support Team (MST) n Bioassay Team (BIT) n Radiopathology Team (RPT) n Biodosimetry Team (BDT)

Module X.10 - International Cooperation11 ERT’s Tasks l The general tasks for the ERT’s are: n to assess the radiological situation n to render safe and perform stabilisation activities including where appropriate source recovery n to provide medical advice and/or consultation, medical assistance as necessary and public health advice

Module X.10 - International Cooperation12 Aerial Survey Team (AST) l The AST should be able to: n quickly detect, locate and identify lost or orphan radiation source(s) by aerial survey over large areas n obtain information on large area surface contamination by radionuclide specific measurements n provide in a timely fashion results and all other collected data to the JET Command as requested according to established procedures and worksheets

Module X.10 - International Cooperation13 Radiation Monitoring Team (RMT) l The RMT should be able to: n detect, locate and demarcate small area(s) of contamination, lost or orphan source(s) by ground survey n propose immediate protective actions, if necessary n monitor personnel, object and equipment contamination n monitor dose rates n perform sampling

Module X.10 - International Cooperation14 Radionuclide Identification Team (RIT) l The RIT should be able to: n identify and quantify specific radionuclide n determine radionuclide specific ground contamination n perform sampling and sample preparation n measure radionuclide concentration in samples (air, soil, water, foodstuffs, etc.)

Module X.10 - International Cooperation15 Source Recovery Team (SRT) l The SRT should be able to: n organise source recovery operations n handle sources with specialised devices n provide temporary shielding and render the source safe n provide advice on source transportation and storage, if required

Module X.10 - International Cooperation16 Assessment and Advisory Team (AAT) l The AAT should be able to: n collect, assess, validate and map the results performed by field teams n make external dose calculation for individuals or critical groups n model, calculate and evaluate radiological consequences n recommend strategies for measurement, protective actions, recovery operations, decontamination and waste management

Module X.10 - International Cooperation17 Medical Support Team (MST) l The MST should be able to: n evaluate the medical consequences of the radiological accident n provide medical advice or consultation and assist with medical care n provide advice and recommend actions for decontamination and prevention of further radiation exposures of the population n provide advice on public health actions

Module X.10 - International Cooperation18 Bioassay Team (BIT) l The BIT should be able to: n identify and determine levels of specific radionuclides using in-vivo bioassay techniques n identify and determine levels of specific radionuclides in biological materials n interpret the data in terms of committed effective dose n interpret data during decorporation treatment, evaluate its efficiency, assess committed doses taking treatment into consideration

Module X.10 - International Cooperation19 Radiopathology Team (RPT) l The RPT should be able to: n obtain the appropriate tissue samples through biopsy or autopsy procedures; n prepare samples for histopathological analysis, and n conduct the evaluation of the samples.

Module X.10 - International Cooperation20 Biodosimetry Team (BDT) l The BDT should be able to: n obtain the appropriate samples n prepare samples n conduct the analysis and evaluation

Module X.10 - International Cooperation21 Training, Drills and Exercises l The Member Institution has to ensure that adequate training is available for and undertaken by all members of the ERTs including leadership qualities for the ERT Leaders l Training requirements which have to be adhered to by the Member Institution l Training requirements which have to be adhered to by the Member Institution n specific and appropriate mandatory training courses have to be identified for each member of the ERT n a schedule for the training sessions, drills and exercises shall be developed n a training record has to be maintained by each ERT Coordinator

Module X.10 - International Cooperation22 Quality Assurance Programme l The Member Institution is responsible for implementing and maintaining a quality assurance programme (QAP) to ensure the IAEA requirements are fulfilled l The programme has to be documented in a quality assurance manual (QAM) l The QAM has to include elements such as policies, organisation, procedures, standards, human resources and logistics

Module X.10 - International Cooperation23 Financial Arrangements l It is expected that the Member State will provide financial support to maintain the ERNET preparedness and response capabilities of its Member Institutions l Some financial support for the ERNET activities may be arranged through the IAEA l In the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency, the financial principles of the response operations will be in accordance with Article 7 of the Assistance Convention

Module X.10 - International Cooperation24 Membership Application Requirements l Requirements are structured as follows: n Prerequisites for membership application n Membership application n Membership application technical review process n Membership recognition

Module X.10 - International Cooperation25 Membership Recognition l After the successful outcome of the review process, the IAEA will formally nominate the Applying Institution as the Member Institution of the ERNET for the ERT under consideration l The validity of the membership is initially for a period of three years and thereafter is renewable subject to demonstrating compliance with the membership requirements l The Member Institution shall be awarded the right to publicly display that it is a member of the ERNET

Module X.10 - International Cooperation26 Administrative and Technical Requirements l Details of administrative and technical requirements for the ERT in the context of IAEA ERNET are divided into n Common requirements n Specific requirements

Module X.10 - International Cooperation27 Specific Requirements l Specific technical requirements are grouped in four areas n expertise n staffing n equipment n additional requirements

Module X.10 - International Cooperation28 Summary l IAEA Emergency Response Network (ERNET) consists of suitably qualified emergency response teams from Member States organised as a global network for rapid international emergency response in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency based on regional emergency capabilities

Module X.10 - International Cooperation29 Where to Get More Information l Call or write to Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria Tel: Fax: